Baker & Daniels slashes 22 staff positions in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne

Scott Olson, The IBJ

solson@ibj.com

Indianapolis-based law firm Baker & Daniels LLP has eliminated 22 positions - 12 in Indianapolis and 10 in Fort Wayne.

The firm made the cuts to its operational staff on Wednesday, according to managing partner Tom Froehle. The terminations involved no lawyers or legal support.

A recent review of internal operations uncovered technological improvements, allowing the firm to run more efficiently with fewer employees, Froehle said.

"We found we were a little out of line, and it was appropriate for us to realign ourselves," he said.

Nationally, scores of law firms are terminating employees, as business dries up in certain practice areas.

Besides Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Baker & Daniels has offices in South Bend; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing, China. It is the second-largest law firm in the city and has 322 lawyers nationally.